Easy Loaded Buffalo Chicken Football Nachos Recipe
These loaded buffalo chicken football nachos are the ultimate game-day snack, featuring crispy tortilla chips layered with spicy buffalo chicken, melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, crispy bacon, and pickled jalapeños, all baked to perfection and finished with a drizzle of ranch or blue cheese dressing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- ½ cup hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot preferred)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large bag (about 12 ounces) tortilla chips
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 6 strips cooked bacon, crumbled
- ⅓ cup pickled jalapeños, drained
- ½ cup ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing
- 3 stalks green onions, sliced thin
- Optional: black beans (drained and rinsed), diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, avocado chunks
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the shredded rotisserie chicken, ½ cup hot sauce, and 3 tablespoons melted butter. Toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
- Spread the tortilla chips in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet, creating a single layer with a few overlapping edges.
- Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar and half of the Monterey Jack evenly over the chips.
- Distribute the buffalo chicken mixture evenly over the cheese layer.
- Top the chicken with the remaining cheddar and Monterey Jack.
- Sprinkle the crumbled bacon and pickled jalapeños over the top. Add any optional toppings now.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly and the edges of the chips are golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 2 minutes.
- Drizzle with ranch or blue cheese dressing, sprinkle with sliced green onions, and serve immediately.
Notes
For best results, shred your own cheese from blocks to avoid anti-caking agents. Use room-temperature chicken to prevent cooling the tray. Layer cheese underneath the chicken to create a moisture barrier and keep chips crispy. Serve immediately for maximum crunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of tray
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 980
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: buffalo chicken nachos, game day nachos, loaded nachos, football nachos, easy nacho recipe